Body Ecology Articles

The Top 6 Fabrics You Should Avoid Wearing and Why

Every day and night we are surrounded by fabrics. From the clothing we wear to the sheets on our beds to upholstery on our furniture or car seats, these are the fabrics of our lives.

Fabrics are around us nearly all the time, but did you know that your material choices could either help or harm your health?

Material World

Not that long ago, people stuck to the natural fibers: wool, cashmere, cotton, silk, linen, and hemp.

But if you take a look at your clothing labels today, you are likely to find materials like rayon, polyester, acrylic, acetate and nylon. Additionally, your shirts and slacks may be treated to be wrinkle-free or stain resistant on top of that.

These technological advances in fabrics may make our lives simpler, but at what cost?

Chemically treated natural and synthetic fabrics are a source of toxins that adversely affect your health and the health of the planet.

Here’s our short list of fabrics to avoid, and the healthy ones to pick instead.

Top 6 Toxic Fabrics

1. Polyester is the worst fabric you can buy. It is made from synthetic polymers that are made from esters of dihydric alcohol and terpthalic acid.

2. Acrylic fabrics are polycrylonitriles and may cause cancer, according to the EPA.

3. Rayon is recycled wood pulp that must be treated with chemicals like caustic soda, ammonia, acetone and sulphuric acid to survive regular washing and wearing.

4. Acetate and Triacetate are made from wood fibers called cellulose and undergo extensive chemical processing to produce the finished product.

5. Nylon is made from petroleum and is often given a permanent chemical finish that can be harmful.

When you pick out your clothes, you probably don’t think about their toxic load on your body and the environment. But most fabrics that make up our clothes, upholstery and linens are highly processed with tons of chemicals. To protect yourself on the inside, as well as out, LivAmend and/or Cocobiotic can help to flush these toxins out of your body so they don’t stick around to cause any harm!

Modern Materials

Keep in mind that many fabrics (including natural fibers) undergo significant processing that often involves:

Detergents

Petrochemical dyes

Formaldehyde to prevent shrinkage

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Dioxin-producing bleach

Chemical fabric softeners

These additives are often toxic to the human body, may contain heavy metals and can pollute our environment.

Fabrics to Chose

If you are chemically sensitive or just want to surround yourself with healthy fabrics, listen to Doris Brunza – a fashion designer who worked in the Garment District in New York City for 20 years. She knows about finding fabrics that don’t cause reactions because she is chemically sensitive.

She points out that nearly ALL fabrics, including organic fabric, are treated with chemicals at some point during their processing. Still, some choices are better than others.

In general, look for natural fibers like:

Cotton

Silk

Linen

Hemp

Wool

Cashmere

Bamboo

Take Away’s

If you can, purchase and wear organic fabrics and organic clothing. While they still might be processed to some extent, they are often a better choice than synthetics.

Brunza also advises people to buy high quality European garments made with the finest fabrics. Expensive clothing may seem overpriced, but the quality of the raw materials is superior, and the fibers can be woven into beautiful fabrics that are soft and strong, requiring little chemical processing to make them suitable for you, the consumer. They also last you for years, which makes them a cost-effective and sustainable purchase in the long run.

Reducing your toxic load by watching what you are putting into your body and developing immune boosting strategies like sipping probiotic drinks and eating fermented vegetables daily can have a tremendous impact on creating a thriving inner ecosystem. Organic food, pure water, and natural or organic clothing can work together to enhance your wellbeing and help you live a healthier life.

Information and statements regarding dietary supplements/products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this website.

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Information and statements regarding dietary supplements/products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is a result of years of practice and experience by the author. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal, or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your healthcare provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read on this website.